Combined rail brace and detector-bar support



Man 20, 11923 B. T. GIBBS, JR

COMBINED RAIL BRACE AND DETECTOR BAR SUPPORT 5, 1921 2 sheets-sheet l Fi ld 0011.

Maw. 20, 1923 1,449,173

' B. T. GIBBS, JR

COMBINED RAIL BRACE AND DETECTOR BAR SUPPORT Filed Oct. 5, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2.

Patented Mar. 211-, i923,

BENEDICT T. GIBBS, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MORIDEN FROG & CROSSING WORKS, 035 CHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COMBINED BAIL BRACE AND DETECTOR-BAR, SUPPORT.

Application filed October 3, 1921.

T0 a-ZZ 107107111 it may concern.

Be it known that 1, Bnnnmo'r T. Gino-s, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Rail Braces and Detector-Bar Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for bracing and supporting railroad rails in close proximity to railroad switches which are controlled by interlocking mechanism.

It is well understood in the art that in interlocking switch work, a so called detector bar is mounted for movement both parallel to and vertically of the railroad rail adjacent to the switch to be controlled, the same being so interconnected with the switch operating mechanism between the switch and the signal tower, or the like that, it must be lifted before the switch is moved and when so lifted extends above the car wheel carrying surface of the rail. If a train is actually passing over or adjacent to the switch to be controlled the detector bar cannot so rise because it is obstructed by the passing car wheel and therefore the switch cannot be thrown. This action prevents wrecking of the train which would occur were the signal man able to throw the switch while the train was passing the switch.

For efficient work it is necessary that the detector bar be located. in close proximity to the rail. Such positioning of the detector bar interferes with the use of commercial rail braces which are normally provided beside the rail with the result that in actual practice track constructing workmen have been known to apply an acetylene torch to the rail brace to melt away enough of it so that the detector bar can go in place. Under such conditions therail brace is so weakened that it is apt to break inv service with or without actual wrecking of the passing train. Even where commercial, so called detector braces intended for use with detector bars are used, they are not in practice so designed as to take care of the motion plate which is fastened to and extends below the detector bar proper. The object of this invention is to provide a combined rail brace and support for a detector bar in which adequate bracing is produced without interfering with the positioning and movement of the detector bar.

Serial No. 505,084.

The invention consists in means accomphshmg the foregoing objects which can be easily and cheaply made, which is satisfactory in use and is not readily liable to get-of order. More particularly the invention consists in many features and details of construction which will be hereafter more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals designate the same parts thruout the several views Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of railroad track having mechanism of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the mechanism of this invention assembled with the railroad rail and detector bar.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

A single railroad rail 10 of Figure 1 is shown mounted on a plurality of ties 12, 13, 1 1- being at tie 13 supported on an ordinary conventional tie plate 16. Adjacent to the rail 10 at tie 14 is a switch point 18 adapted to be shifted backward and forward from the rail 10 by any conventional mechanism not entering into this invention as for instance the rod mechanism 20 operated from beyond the figure by mechanism in the signal tower, common in interlocking systems.

Extending along the rail 10 and in substantial contact therewith is a conventional form of detector bar 22 also reciprocatable in the general manner heretofore described by mechanism not shown in the signal tower. Rigidly secured to this detector bar 22 by any suitable means such as bolts or rivets 24 are at intervals motion plates 26 adapted as the bar 22 is reciprocated along the rail to engage rollers 30 one for each motion plate well understood in the art so as to elevate the detector bar above the upper surface of the rail and into the space occupied in Figure 4: by the dotted car wheel 28. In the preferred form of construction shown in enlarged detail in Figures 3 and 1, such a wheel or roller 30 engageable by the motion plate 26 is mounted rotatably on a diagonal pivot bolt or rivet .32 supported in opposite parallel side walls or jaws 34: and 36 of a U shaped opening 88 formed in a block, usually a casting 40, rising from a base 41 suitably mounted at the side of the rail 10. Jaw 34 is provided with portions &2 and 44:, in the particular case here illustrated separated laterally extending flanges, engaging respectively the rail head and bottom rail flange there being formed between these members 42 and a recess 46 in which the head 48 of rivet 32 is adapted to be received. Jaw 34: is also provided at one or both ends with longitudiderst-ood in the art.

The .U shaped recess -38 is provided at its upper end with a restricted neck or passage within which the detector bar 22 is movable both horizontally and vertically. This passage 60 is formed by an inwardly pointed lug 62011 the end of jaw 86 so shaped and formed as shown that recess 38 below it is of ample size to allow for the operation of the roller 30- and to receive the motion plate 26 as it passes at least partially thru the recess 38 while in engagement with the roller 30. The lower edge of lug 62 by engaging a flange 63 on the motion plate prevents the detector bar rising too high.

By the use of this mechanism the rail road constructor has only to apply a plurality of these blocks at) with attached parts to properly designated ties as 12 and 14, thereby securing ample bracing for the rail and providing rollers 30 for the operation of the detector bar. p

In the operation of the device, the parts are assembled as shown and thereupon when the tower man by mechanism not shown in the drawings, reciprocates the detector bar 22 alongthe rail motion plates 26 travel upward over their respective adjacent rollers 30 until 't he bar 22' projects above the top of the rail 10 if there is no car wheel 28 present or is stopped by the car wheel on the rail if there, in which case the tower man is prevented by the conventional mechanism from operating the switch until the car wheel has cleared the'detector bar.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In mechanism of the class described, a unitary block arranged to brace the side of a railroad rail and support it, mechanical means entering the rail for detachably securing'said block to the rail, means for detachably securing said block to the ties upon which the railroad rail rests, and a roller mechanism for a detector bar carried by said block without interference with the supporting functions of the block.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a unitary block arranged to brace the side of a railroad rail and support it, mechanical means entering the rail detachably securing said block-to the rail, means for detachably securing said block to the ties upon which the railroad rail rests, and a rollermechanisin for a detector bar carried by said block withoutinterference with the supporting functions of the block, and a member extending from the block partially enclosing device located near the bottom of the recess between jaws, flanges on the jaw which mostclosely approaches the rail contacting respectively with the rail head and the adjacent rail flange, there being formed between .said flanges and between the rail web'and the nearest adjacent jaw, a space for the head of the pivot member and a strap on said last mentioned jaw adapted for detachable securement to the rail.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

BENEDICT r. GIBBS, as 

